A new Buyers In Focus series of conversations exploring the dynamic international distribution landscape is among the highlights of TIFF’s Industry Conference running September 5-9.
The programme will offer attendees access to decision-makers from Constantin Film, Mongrel Media, Curzon Film, Sony Pictures Classics, NonStop Entertainment, RAI Cinema and others, and lays the groundwork for TIFF: The Market launching in 2026.
Industry Conference programming sees the returning Perspectives roster of panel conversations on which Screen International is the media partner. Topics will explore producing elevated arthouse series with Baltasar Kormákur, Sameer Nair, and Gwen Gorst; best practices on accessible productions; inclusive and collaborative productions; and AI.
NBCUniversal Entertainment & Studios chairman Donna Langley will take part in an on-stage conversation in a Visionaries line-up that brings Fremantle Group COO and CEO Continental Europe Andrea Scrosati, Yelena Rachitsky, head of emerging formats at Meta; and filmmaker Edward Berger.
Lucky Lu and Poetic License feature debut directors Lloyd Lee Choi and Maude Apatow join others in the Dialogues roster of conversations between directors, screenwriters, and producers; while Microsessions brings panel discussions on maximising co-production in Canada, UK partnerships, building African infrastructure, and developing in South Korea.
The Spotlight strand is a series of breakfast events with national and regional promotion agencies and organisations focusing on Asian women, AI, Italy, Asian women, and balancing artistry and efficiency.
There will be special events involving partners like Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences, and Directors Guild of Canada – Ontario.
The full roster of events appears below:
Visionaries
- Donna Langley, Chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment & Studios
- Andrea Scrosati, Group Chief Operating Officer and CEO Continental Europe, Fremantle
- Yelena Rachitsky, head of emerging formats at Meta
- Edward Berger (Ballad Of AbSmall Player); and Sterlin Harjo (The Lowdown), presented by the Indigenous Screen Office.
Dialogues
- Creative Visions in Animated Feature Films with Domee Shi (Elio), Momoko Seto (Dandelion’s Odyssey), and Mamoru Hosoda (Scarlet)
- Indie Producers On A Shifting Landscape with Diana Bustamante, Julia Lebedev, Yulia Evina Bhara, Alex C. Lo, and Daniel Bekerman
- New Comedic Voices In Feature Film with Maude Apatow & Raffi Donatich (Poetic License), Jonatan Etzler & Jess O’Kane (Bad Apples), and Chandler Levack (Mile End Kicks)
- Short Cuts To First Features with Lloyd Lee Choi (Lucky Lu), Sasha Leigh Henry (Dinner With Friends), Taratoa Stappard (Mārama), and Eva Thomas (Nika & Madison) – presented by the Directors Guild of Canada
- Modern Whore: From Book to Screen with Nicole Bazuin
Perspectives
Screen International is the media partner. Additional speakers to be confirmed.
- Accessible Productions: Best Practices – Co-programmed with the Disability Screen Office and supported by Telefilm Canada
- Building Inclusive And Collaborative Productions with Jennifer Podemski, Ama Ampadu, Karen Harnisch, and Tamara Dawit
- Latin American Cinema In Challenging Times with Manuel García, Nicolás Celis, Claudia Triana Soto, and Fernando Juan Lima
- Producing Elevated Art-House Series with Baltasar Kormákur, Sameer Nair, and Gwen Gorst
- Sourcing Stories In A Multi-Platform World with Adam Levine and Bradley Hope
- Unlocking New Possibilities For Storytelling With AI with Nikola Todorovic, Christina Lee Storm, Ángel Manuel Soto, Seungwoo Kim, and Don Allen Stevenson III
- Cinema on the Rise: Expanding Opportunities Across MENA with Zain Duraie (Sink) and Seyhmus Altun (As We Breathe) —
- Indigenous Perspectives on Creative Sovereignty in Co-Productions
Microsessions
- Coming Soon: Developing New Work in South Korea – Presented in Partnership with the Korean Cultural Centre Canada
- SIRA | Inside The African Grid Shaping Our Future: Creating Roadmaps To Co-Production And Sales In The Global Marketplace – Presented by SIRA - The African Hub
- Maximizing Co-Production With Canada: Meet the Provinces – Presented by Ontario Creates
- Are You Ready To Apply To Telefilm Canada? – Presented by Telefilm Canada with media partner Playback
- Exploring The Futures Of Distribution – Presented by Telefilm Canada with media partner Playback
- The UK: Where Partnerships Bring Stories To Life – Presented by British Film Commission, British Film Institute, UK Department of Business and Trade, and VisitBritain
Spotlight
- Gold Pitch Filmmaker Showcase – Presented by Gold House
- Northern Ontario: Above And Beyond – Presented by Cultural Industries Ontario North
- Italy, Your Strategic Film Partner! B2B Co-Producing with Italy – Presented by Italian Trade Agency
- Italy, Your Strategic Film Partner! Filming In Italy Forum – Presented by Italian Trade Agency
- Producing the Vision: Balancing Artistry And Efficiency – Presented by Greenslate, Circus, and Angle on Producers
- AI On The Roof – Presented by AI on the Lot
- New HERizons: Asian Women Shaping Film – Presented by Taiwan Creative Content Agency
Buyers In Focus
Featured companies include: BF Distribution, Bir Film, Blue Pictures Entertainment, Constantin Film, Curzon Film, FilmOne Entertainment, Filmladen Filmverleih GmbH, Globo Comunicação e Participações S.A., Impact Films, La Subterránea, MAD Solutions & Arab Cinema Center, Madman Entertainment, Mongrel Media, NonStop Entertainment, RAI Cinema, September Film, Sony Pictures Classics, and more.
Special Events
- Additional Special Events will be shared soon to registered professionals.
- Academy Conversation: The Changing Landscape Of Distribution – Co-programmed by AMPAS
- Series Up Close With Mae Martin – Presented by the Directors Guild of Canada - Ontario.
- The Ankler & Pure Nonfiction LIVE with Mariska Hargitay and Thom Powers (TIFF Docs)
- Sloan Science & Technology Project Pitch – Creators pitch their feature film or episodic scripts featuring science and technology themes in front of a live audience and a panel of decision-makers
- Sloan Science on Film Showcase – A scientific expert joins the director Ildikó Enyedi of Silent Friend at this Official Selection film’s Q&A to discuss its science and technology themes. Funding is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation’s Public Understanding of Science and Technology programme.
TIFF Talent Development at the Talent Hub
- Directors’ Lab – Returning in 2025, reimagined to include more business development support, and fall under future Market plans
- Series Accelerator – Presented by Canada Media Fund
- Every Story Accelerator – Supported by RBC Foundation
Summit, Showcases & Funds
- Chanel Women Creators’ Network Micro Talent Summit supported by Chanel
- CJ & TIFF K-Story Fund – Supported by CJ Cultural Foundation and The Korean Film Council
- Monkeypaw Productions’ No Drama Short Film Showcase – powered by the Universal Filmmakers Project and TIFF
The 50th edition of TIFF runs September 4–14.
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